Interesting Domitian sestertius
Showcased here today is an interesting addition to my collection: a Domitian sestertius with a Roman Baths of Bath, England information slip. Based on the obverse and reverse inscriptions this should be RIC II, Part 1 103. This coin measures about 33mm wide and weighs 25.99g.
What is interesting is the vintage slip it came with. Originating from the Roman Baths of Bath, this coin was most likely sold circa 1950-1960s, as the price on the slip denotes £7 10s (7 Pounds and 10 Shillings), which is predecimal British currency so it predates UK decimalisation in 1971.
Fun fact: according to this article https://www.retrowow.co.uk/social_history/70s/cost_1970.php, The average weekly wage for full-time male manual workers over twenty-one was £28 0s 11d and £13 19s 10d for women over eighteen years of age. In this case, it equates to approximately 1/4 of a man’s weekly wage and 1/2 of a woman’s weekly wage, which by no means was a cheap trinket/souvenir at the time (assuming it was sold exactly in 1970).
Ps: for those who don’t know/ are curious, Roman Baths is a historic Roman bathing and temple complex in the city of Bath, England, built around natural hot springs and now one of Britain’s most famous archaeological sites.